Spirit's Take: Here's what Ole Miss is adding in On3 Consensus three-star safety Daniel Demery
Parish Episcopal School (Tex.) safety Daniel Demery made it official on Friday and announced his commitment to Ole Miss. The 5-foot-11, 194 pound Lone Star state prospect chose the Rebels over notable offers from Colorado, SMU, USC, Texas A&M, Penn State, Texas, Arkansas, Louisville, Michigan State, Iowa, Baylor, Nebraska, Arizona, Vanderbilt, Washington, Georgia Tech and Arizona State, among others.
Demery is the No. 438 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average which utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is ranked as the No. 41 safety and the No. 78 recruit in the state of Texas.
The Dallas, Tex., recruit took unofficial visits to Ole Miss, Colorado and SMU this year. He visited Oxford last fall for a game weekend and then turned around and unofficially visited in January. The Rebels seemed to solidify their standing and ultimately gain his commitment when he returned in April for the 2022 Grove Bowl and Double Decker Arts Festival.
Demery has a tight relationship with Rebels’ defensive line coach, family friend and former little league football coach, Randall Joyner. Despite the Aggies, Longhorns and Mustangs trying to keep him in Texas, Ole Miss and Joyner were ultimately too much to overcome.
“He was my first tackle football coach, he and his brother,” Demery said. “Over the years he’s become family. …we have built a strong relationship over the years and we talk a lot.”
Demery had a breakout junior season, making 70 total tackles, five tackles for loss, five interceptions and three defensive touchdowns for the TAPPS Division I state champs. The First Team All-State defensive back was re-offered by Jeff Banks and the new Texas staff in early February and the Longhorns should continue to be a factor throughout his recruitment.
Demery and his PES teammates went 12-1 last fall and won their third-straight TAPPS Division I state title, defeating Midland Christian, 56-17.
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Demery has an On3 NIL Valuation of $13.5. The On3 NIL Valuation is an index that looks to set the standard market value for both high school and college-level athletes. The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date; it rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.
SPIRIT’S TAKE
Demery is a multi-faceted defensive back prospect who is extremely athletic and can play a number of positions. He is a staple in the run game defensively who has no qualms stepping up to assist in run support. On the island, he uses his receiver background to compete in one-on-one situations, high-pointing the football and either batting it away or coming down with the interception.
He’s also a standout track athlete who has been clocked at 11.81 in the 100m dash early in his high school career. Demery utilizes his dual-sport background in pass coverage. He makes quick reads from his centerfield spot and, as noted above, can accelerate and play inside-out when coming up to thump a ball carrier.
He’s a savvy player who is your stereotypical quarterback of the defense with his knowledge of coverages and putting his defenders in the right spot. Given time in a Power 5 strength and conditioning program, the First Team All-State prospect will certainly be someone who can make an impact early in his college career with his skill set and playmaking ability.
Impact Potential: 7.4/10
